The unique format of the Conservative leadership debate at the Manning Centre conference Friday — groups of four and three candidates, rather than a long line of 14 — provided a few key exchanges on health care innovation, pipeline construction, supply management and carbon pricing.

In the first group of four, randomly-selected by former Reform Party leader Preston Manning himself, Erin O’Toole used a question on health care reform to press Kellie Leitch for concrete proposals.

Leitch, a pediatric orthopedic surgeon who has targeted “elites” in her campaign, had just highlighted her time chairing the Ivey Centre for Health Innovation and